For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON - On THURSDAY, MARCH 29 at 12:00 PM EDT, a diverse coalition of advocacy organizations, activists, and national leaders will protest the American Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC) paid promotion of deadly "Stand Your Ground" legislation written by the National Rifle Association (NRA). The attendees will also deliver a letter to ALEC headquarters at 1100 Vermont Ave, NW in Washington demanding that the group disclose all NRA funding and publicly pledge to end its promotion of "Stand Your Ground” bills.

Organizing sponsors include the National Urban League, NAACP, ColorOfChange, Moveon.org, AFL-CIO, SEIU, ProgressNow, Center for Media and Democracy/ALECexposed.org, Presente, Public Campaign, Common Cause, People For the American Way, UltraViolet, Faith in Public Life, National Council of Churches, USAction, and more.

ISSUE: The Florida "Kill at Will" law is being used to justify the killing of Trayvon Martin - an unarmed African American 17-year-old - and may prevent the successful prosecution of his shooter. Since the NRA wrote this law into Florida's books in 2005, the "justifiable homicide" rate there has jumped 300%.

ALEC has used its deep relationship with conservative lawmakers in state legislatures to pass similar legislation in 30 states and at least 34 states have some form of expanded “Stand Your Ground” laws.

ALEC also promotes legislation that serves the financial interests of its corporate funders while undermining voter rights, workplace safety, and more.

Organizers anticipate a large, vocal and high-profile turnout to expose the NRA/ALEC partnership and its horrific "collateral damage" in America's communities and attempt to deliver their demand letter to ALEC leaders.

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Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 by John Gardner as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest.

Further

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